Chapter 21, Section 1: Presidential Politics
I. The Harding Administration (pages 636–638)
A. In 1920, when Warren G. Harding ran for president, most Americans wanted to return to simpler
times. His campaign slogan to return to normalcy, or a “normal” life after the war, made him very
popular and he won the presidency.
B. Harding made a few distinguished appointments to the cabinet, but most appointments were given to
friends. His old poker-playing friends became known as the Ohio Gang. Some members used their
government positions to sell jobs, pardons, and immunity from prosecution. Before most of the scandals
became public knowledge, Harding fell ill and died in 1923.
C. Harding’s secretary of the interior, Albert B. Fall, secretly allowed private interests to lease lands
containing U.S. Navy oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming. He received bribes totaling over $300,000.
The Teapot Dome scandal ended with Fall being the first cabinet officer in history to be sent to prison.
D. Another Harding administration scandal involved Attorney General Harry Daugherty. He refused to
turn over files and bank records for a German-owned American company. Bribe money ended up in a
bank account controlled by Daugherty. He refused to testify under oath, claiming immunity, or freedom
from prosecution, on the grounds that he had confidential dealings with the president. The new president,
Calvin Coolidge, demanded Daugherty’s resignation.
Discussion Question
What problems faced President Harding during his administration? (Harding’s administration was
plagued with scandals by cabinet members and other government officials appointed by Harding. Some
members of the Ohio Gang used their government positions to sell jobs, pardons, and immunity from
prosecution. Colonel Charles R. Forbes, head of the Veteran’s Bureau, sold scarce medical supplies from
veteran’s hospitals and kept the money, which cost the taxpayers $250 million. Secretary of the interior,
Albert B. Fall, secretly allowed private interests to lease lands containing U.S. Navy oil reserves at
Teapot Dome, Wyoming. Attorney General Harry Daugherty refused to turn over files and bank records
for a German-owned American company. Bribe money ended up in a bank account controlled by
Daugherty.)
II. The Coolidge Administration (pages 638–639)
A. Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president after Harding’s death. Coolidge distanced himself
from the Harding administration. His focus was on prosperity through business leadership with little
government intervention. He easily won the Republican Party’s nomination for president in 1924.
B. The Democratic Party’s candidate was John W. Davis. Those not wanting to choose between the
Republican and Democratic Parties formed a new Progressive Party with Robert M. La Follette as their
candidate.
C. Coolidge won the 1924 election with more than half the popular vote. Coolidge promised to give the
United States the normalcy that Harding had not.
Discussion Question
How did Coolidge feel about business and government? (Coolidge felt that business led to prosperity and
that the government should not interfere.)